G/SPS/N/JPN/730  
 
20 March 2020  
(20-2239) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  JAPAN  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Poultry meat and egg products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  The Philippines, and countries, regions or zones 
approved as free from HPAI a nd LPAI by Japan 
https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/news/third -free.html   
5. Title of the notified document:  Import suspension of poultry meat and egg products 
from the Philippines . Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of H5N6 highly pathogenic 
avian influenza (HPAI) virus into Japan, the MAFF has suspended the import of poultry 
meat and egg products from the Philippines, including those shipped through third 
countries, based on the "Animal Health Requirement for the poultry meat and their 
products to be exported to Japan from Philippines", and Articles 37 and 44 of the "Act on 
Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control" from the Philippines since 16 March 2020. 
Poultry meat products derived from animals slaughtered on and after 14 February 2020 
and poultry egg products derived from eggs laid on and after 14 February 2020 are not 
eligible to be exported to Japan, taking into consideration the incubation period of the 
HPAI virus stipula ted in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of t he urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  An outbreak of 
H5N6 HPAI was confirmed in a backyard quail farm in Jaen, Nueva Ecija on 13 March 
2020.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : 
Chapter 10.4. "Infection with avian influenza virus"  G/SPS/N/JPN/730  
 
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  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Current 
"Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat etc. to be exported to Japan from Republic 
of the Philippines"  
https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/at tach/pdf/chicken -meet-64.pdf  
(Available in English and Japanese)  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
16 March 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Japan Enquiry Point  
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(8131) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp   
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Japan Enquiry Point 
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(8131) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp